czech matchbook labels

I finally scanned in more of my czech matchbook labels (all uncut sheets) from the 50s an 60s. See them on flickr! ohlallala!

Along U.S. 12 in Detroit

Hello! Unsure if anyone stops by here as it's been ages since my last post. I'm going to try to keep it up on a more regular basis as I have loads of images that are sitting on my desktop. Trying to decide where to focus my posting efforts, here on blogger, tumblr 1, tumblr 2, flickr... Ideally it will all be consolidated all on a website soon.

This post represents a mini inventory of signs and ephemera along U.S. 12 also known as Michigan Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. See more here and the actual photos on my flickr. Explanation to come!

little blue books

At the top of my favorite publishing endeavors are Little Blue Books, published by Haldeman-Julius Company out of Girard, Kansas. Over 1900 titles were published between the years of 1923-1978 and the books were affordable to most—as low as 5 cents a book. I particularly enjoy the faded newsprint colors, the uniformity of type as well as the crazy-odd titles intermingled amongst the classics.

The backside of some books has a logo that reads: "Little Blue Books * A University in Print * Read the World Over".

A sampling from my collection can be found on my flickr.

from the MCAD archives

Minneapolis School of Art Letterhead from the 50s and 60s (previously named Minneapolis School of Art, it change it's name to Minneapolis College of Art and Design in the 70s).


MCAD's letterhead from the 70s — the corporate and quirky



MCAD's letterhead from 70s/80s (palette+brush), 90s (Blue M), 00 (Jancourt/Rezac pict system) and now.


Minneapolis College of Art and Design turned 125 this year. Also in 1886: Coca Cola was created, the American Federation of Labor (AFL) is formed and The Statue of Liberty is gifted to the United States from France.

Over the summer, my design partner Annie Wang and I spent countless hours in MCAD's archives searching and researching materials to use in their 125th anniversary book. A wealth of archival photos and ephemera detailing MCAD's legendary visiting artists, milestones and cultural shifts were scanned and photographed. In the end the anniversary book turned out to be an alumni portfolio rather than a comprehensive, MCAD-is-out-of-control-cool-artschool-casestudy. So, on occasion, I'll post some things that didn't make the cut, but things that we really like, beginning with this scanned letterhead ranging from the fifties to present.

from the 80s

bits I have trouble getting rid off.

back into the cave?

Protect the Environment.

more uploaded today!

dear anna:

EEEKS, it's been a long time between postings. I've been swamped with teaching, getting organized and the day-to-day. Recently, I discovered a slew of my scanned ephemera on an old external harddrive of mine. Perhaps you'll enjoy this sampling of leather cards as much as I do. hope everything is going swimmingly with you all!

all addressed to anna.
most date between 1905-1907.

more cards from my collection here!

polaroid yumminess

Documents from travels past. I love the unpredictability of the real print, chemical mixing, waiting…

more blurriness here.

I'm ready for a great roadtrip.

pioneer

Pioneer childrens magazine from Estonia. It kinda reminds me of an outdoorsie Highlights. Aren't the illustrations superb! + I love the off-registered printing on the gem stamps.

To see more please visit my flickr.

1 2 3 4 5...

Found! A mini collection of weekly Milwaukee bus passes between the years of 1930–1979. I would love to know more about the keeper of these—certainly the owner held a steady job.

The transit system changed names over the course of 40 years as did the design; great shifts in color palettes and typographic sensibilities. We've got some great fluorescent inks that my scanner couldn't capture...

The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company > T.M.E.R.& T. Co. > Milwaukee & Suburban Transport Corporation > The Transport Co. > Milwaukee County Transit System

more here
+
a refresher of who and what was in the news 100 years ago + Washington's teeeeth. thank you Library of Congress for keeping me off the streets.

flickr f-u-n !

I've recently set myself up on flickr. Please check back for more sets!

phillumeny

my stash!

Phillumeny flickr pool

These two sheets are from the Solo Lipnik matchbox factory.

wonder questions

a collection of good questions snipped from some of my favorite books.

nutcrackers and sausage trees

bits of nature from my collection

from there

hi there out there!
this weekend, i set up a tumblr account. it's just getting going, but this is FUN! i should have done this sooner to keep track of outside sources.


from there

special folder of fun

As my semester winds down and the computer cleanup begins—special things have been re-discovered on my harddrive. These four images are amongst many in my "Anti-Hierarchy/Excess" folder.

> MAX / Dishes. Minneapolis!
> Yikes, my parents have been holding these for my sister me. I don't remember being doll crazy?
> Gas + Jerky! Taken in northern michigan ?
> Crazytown exhibit at the MN state fair. One of my favorite case studies in what not to do.